Family plans memorial service for murdered Alabama college student

Published 6:10 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Relatives have scheduled a memorial service for a slain Alabama college student whose disappearance prompted weeks of searches.

A service for 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard is set for noon Saturday at Faith Chapel Christian Center, a church in Birmingham.

An announcement posted on the church’s Facebook page says the event is open to the public.

Blanchard is from suburban Birmingham and she was the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris. She was abducted from a convenience store in Auburn in October, and her remains were found weeks later in rural east Alabama.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a man charged in Blanchard’s disappearance and slaying.